Witness: Dispute over woman led to fatal shooting

Published: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 6:35 p.m.

An ongoing dispute over a woman led to the shooting death of a Umatilla man on Saturday, according to the man whose home became the scene of the confrontation.

Ricky Bacon said Lamar Lee Maddox was at his home at 17025 SE 249th Terrace on Saturday afternoon, when Brandon Wayne Simmons, 25, and two other men arrived to confront him.

Bacon said Maddox, who was upset about the recent death of his brother, was also distraught about his recent breakup with his girlfriend. The woman was currently dating Simmons' uncle, but Maddox had continued trying to reconcile with her.

Bacon said Maddox believed Simmons and the other two went to Bacon's home Saturday to jump him. Bacon came out and told the three men, who also regularly visit with him, that Maddox was in the home and he didn't want any trouble.

"I told them I wasn't having it in my house, they had to take it someplace else," Bacon said.

Maddox exited the house and the four made their way to the road in front of Bacon's home. Bacon said he saw Maddox pull a gun from the waistband of his pants. The weapon went off as Maddox pulled it and the bullet hit the ground.

"I didn't even know he had a gun," he said. "He wasn't pointing or aiming. He just turned at them and started shooting. He wasn't trying to kill anybody. He just thought they were going to jump him."

Simmons was hit twice, once in the arm and a second time in the chest, Bacon said.

"I kept him alive for 30 minutes. I gave him CPR. We prayed and asked for forgiveness. He told me he loved me and then smiled," he said.

Simmons was taken to The Villages Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Maddox ran into nearby woods and eluded immediate capture. Bacon told officers the man could head to St. Petersburg because that's where his brother's ashes were located.

Just after dawn, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office patrol deputy spotted a car similar to the one Maddox was thought to be driving parked in an alley next to a home at 6781 54th Ave. North, said Cristen Rensel, Pinellas sheriff's public information officer.

A perimeter was established around the home and officers kept it under surveillance. Just before 10 a.m., a Dodge Caravan parked in front of the house and two women exited and went inside. A short time later, they left, Rensel said.

Deputies pulled over the van nearby and found Maddox lying in the backseat. He was arrested without incident.

Maddox was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on a Marion County warrant for second degree murder. He was awaiting transfer to Marion.

"I've know Brandon since he was born. I still can't get it out of my head. I've known both families for years. My heart goes out to both families," Bacon said.

<p>An ongoing dispute over a woman led to the shooting death of a Umatilla man on Saturday, according to the man whose home became the scene of the confrontation.</p><p>Ricky Bacon said Lamar Lee Maddox was at his home at 17025 SE 249th Terrace on Saturday afternoon, when Brandon Wayne Simmons, 25, and two other men arrived to confront him.</p><p>Bacon said Maddox, who was upset about the recent death of his brother, was also distraught about his recent breakup with his girlfriend. The woman was currently dating Simmons' uncle, but Maddox had continued trying to reconcile with her.</p><p>Bacon said Maddox believed Simmons and the other two went to Bacon's home Saturday to jump him. Bacon came out and told the three men, who also regularly visit with him, that Maddox was in the home and he didn't want any trouble.</p><p>"I told them I wasn't having it in my house, they had to take it someplace else," Bacon said.</p><p>Maddox exited the house and the four made their way to the road in front of Bacon's home. Bacon said he saw Maddox pull a gun from the waistband of his pants. The weapon went off as Maddox pulled it and the bullet hit the ground.</p><p>"I didn't even know he had a gun," he said. "He wasn't pointing or aiming. He just turned at them and started shooting. He wasn't trying to kill anybody. He just thought they were going to jump him."</p><p>Simmons was hit twice, once in the arm and a second time in the chest, Bacon said.</p><p>"I kept him alive for 30 minutes. I gave him CPR. We prayed and asked for forgiveness. He told me he loved me and then smiled," he said.</p><p>Simmons was taken to The Villages Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</p><p>Maddox ran into nearby woods and eluded immediate capture. Bacon told officers the man could head to St. Petersburg because that's where his brother's ashes were located.</p><p>Just after dawn, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office patrol deputy spotted a car similar to the one Maddox was thought to be driving parked in an alley next to a home at 6781 54th Ave. North, said Cristen Rensel, Pinellas sheriff's public information officer.</p><p>A perimeter was established around the home and officers kept it under surveillance. Just before 10 a.m., a Dodge Caravan parked in front of the house and two women exited and went inside. A short time later, they left, Rensel said.</p><p>Deputies pulled over the van nearby and found Maddox lying in the backseat. He was arrested without incident.</p><p>Maddox was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on a Marion County warrant for second degree murder. He was awaiting transfer to Marion.</p><p>"I've know Brandon since he was born. I still can't get it out of my head. I've known both families for years. My heart goes out to both families," Bacon said.</p>